A groundbreaking underwater robot developed by researchers from China has demonstrated unprecedented maneuverability in the world's deepest ocean trenches, overcoming extreme pressure conditions that traditionally required bulky submersible systems. Inspired by the batfish's locomotion, the 50-centimeter-long machine can swim, glide, and crawl across seabeds at depths exceeding 10,000 meters.
Engineering Against Extreme Pressure
The robot, designed by a Beihang University-led team, successfully navigated both the Mariana Trench (10,666 meters deep) and the Haima Cold Seep (1,384 meters). At maximum depths, it endures pressures equivalent to 1,100 kilograms per square centimeter — comparable to balancing an adult elephant on a postage stamp.
Innovative Design Solutions
Key to its performance are flexible silicone components that leverage high-pressure environments to enhance actuator efficiency. "External pressure actually accelerates movement by stiffening our materials," explained Pan Fei, lead researcher. The team also integrated shape-memory alloy springs that contract under controlled electrical currents, enabling rapid limb oscillations even in near-freezing temperatures.
Next-Generation Applications
Published in Science Robotics, the study highlights the robot's speeds of 5.5 cm/s while swimming and 3 cm/s when crawling. Researchers now aim to integrate AI for advanced deep-sea exploration tasks. Professor Wen Li stated: "This paves the way for intelligent systems to conduct complex operations where humans cannot venture."
